Saints move excites Hasselbaink

Nigel Hasselbaink believes his recent move to St Johnstone is a step up from former club St Mirren as the young striker looks to fire the Perth side through the Europa League qualifying rounds.

Hasselbaink, 21, scored eight goals in his single season at St Mirren, but will now be relied upon to provide them on a regular basis for the Saints as both Francisco Sandaza and Cillian Sheridan have left the club.

Despite losing two frontmen who shared 23 goals between them last season, Hasselbaink has revealed he does not feel the pressure to become the club's main goalscorer. He said: "There's no task there, they are Sheridan and Sandaza, I'm Nigel Hasselbaink so I'm a different player and I'll do what I can do."

He added: "I don't live life with pressure. I'm going to try to do what I always do, get one against ones and give defenders a hard time and try to create goals for this team."

The former Hamilton forward, who is also the nephew of ex-Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, is likely to make his competitive debut for St Johnstone in the second qualifying round of the Europa League in a couple of weeks against Eskisehirspor.

The Perth side's opponents only qualified after Besiktas were banned by UEFA from European competition due to financial issues.

However, the Istanbul club has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who have yet to issue a decision.

If Besiktas are successful in challenging their punishment, Bursaspor, who themselves won an appeal against expulsion at CAS last week, would step in.

Whoever St Johnstone's opposition prove to be, Hasselbaink cited the chance to play in Europe as one of the reasons behind his move.

"It was just a feeling and I'm a boy who goes on feelings and I thought St Johnstone was the next stop for me. It is a good club and the gaffer and players look after me," he said. "I'm going to play in the Europa League which is a step up for every player and that's no disrespect for St Mirren because I had a good year there."